Thursday, November 10, 2005
Pope St. Leo the Great

Double (1955 Calendar): April 11
Memorial (1969 Calendar): November 10

Today is the feastday of one of the few saints who have the informal title of "great" - St. Leo the Great (c. 400-461), pope and Doctor of the Church. He is a shining example for apologetics. St. Leo was an eloquent writer and homilist. He wrote exceptionally well on St. Peter and the papacy as founded in Matthew 16:18. However, St. Leo also fought extensively against heresies and preserved Church teachings.

He was pope from 440 to 461 AD during the invasion of Attila the Hun. When Attila marched on to Rome, St. Leo went out to meet him and pleaded for him to leave. As Leo spoke, Attila saw a vision of a man in priestly robes, carrying a bare sword, and threatening to kill the invader if he did not obey Pope St. Leo. It is believed that the visionary was St. Peter, to whom St. Leo had a great devotion. Attila the Hun, one of the most brutal barbarians in history, left. St. Leo won without a life being lost.

Prayer:

Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd, and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of Blessed Leo, Thy Sovereign Pontiff, whom Thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Image: Pope St. Leo the Great confronts Atilla the Hun, In the Public Domain

3 comment(s):

del_button November 11, 2005 at 12:08 PM
Anonymous said...

Could you add an article on Apologetics to the Catholic Encyclopedia? I do not really know much about it

del_button November 11, 2005 at 12:10 PM
Matthew said...

So you want me to add the article on apologetics to the Cathoic Wikipedia correct?

Sure, I'll do that. Thanks for commenting on my blog

del_button November 12, 2005 at 7:25 PM
Anonymous said...

No, not the Cathoic Wikipedia. The Catholic Wikipedia. Lol, just joking around. I saw it on the Catholic wikipedia, thank you very much. I also made an account on the Catholic wikipedia.

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